In a recent article Hontelez et al. investigate the prospects for elimination of HIV in South Africa through expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) using STDSIM, a micro-simulation model. One of the first published models to suggest that expanded access to ART could lead to the elimination of HIV, referred to by the authors as ‘the Granich Model’, was developed and implemented by the p...

In Yemen, the prevalence of sickle cell trait and β-thalassemia trait are high. The aim of this premarital program is to identify sickle cell and thalassemia carrier couples in Yemen before completing marriages proposal, in order to prevent affected birth. This can be achieved by applying a low-cost premarital screening program using simple blood tests compatible with the limited health resourc...

BACKGROUND In South Africa, stigma, discrimination, social visibility and fear of loss of confidentiality impede health facility-based HIV testing. With 50% of adults having ever tested for HIV in their lifetime, private, alternative testing options are urgently needed. Non-invasive, oral self-tests offer a potential for a confidential, unsupervised HIV self-testing option, but global data are ...

The problem of getting children to follow a treatment regimen is widespread and is frustrating for physicians. The extent to which any patient adheres to a medical regimen is an essential determinant of clinical success. Strategies to improve adherence in children include using simplified drug regimens (e.g., once-daily dosing), pleasant-tasting medicines, liquid or other nonpill formulations, ...

BACKGROUND The increase in the number of people suffering from dementia is of increasing global concern. A survey on the living conditions of the elderly in a Japanese rural community revealed a high prevalence of early dementia and the necessity for interventions not only for the elderly with early dementia but also for their families. OBJECTIVE To describe the implementation and process eva...

Low adherence remains a struggle in hypertension management, despite improvement efforts. Presuming that increased patient participation is a possible approach, we collaborated with patients and healthcare professionals to design a self-report system to support self-management. The study aimed to explore and describe relevant aspects of hypertension and hypertension treatment, for use in the de...

Shortfalls in haemoglobinopathy provision result in patients and their carers receiving inadequate support. This paper, by drawing on material from a project evaluating service provision to families caring for a child with a sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia, discusses screening and counselling services. It explores the perspectives of parents, front-line practitioners, managers and health c...

BACKGROUND Health workers' malaria case-management practices often differ from national guidelines. We assessed whether text-message reminders sent to health workers' mobile phones could improve and maintain their adherence to treatment guidelines for outpatient paediatric malaria in Kenya. METHODS From March 6, 2009, to May 31, 2010, we did a cluster-randomised controlled trial at 107 rural ...

BACKGROUND Loss to follow-up (LTFU) in clinical trials is an important source of bias that can affect statistical power and generalisability of findings. The aim of this paper is to assess factors associated with LTFU in the MObile Technology for Improved Family Planning (MOTIF) trial in Cambodia and compare how the result might have varied using different analytical methods. METHODS Follow-u...

Background The MObile Technology for Improved Family Planning (MOTIF) trial assessed a mobile phone-based intervention comprising voice messages and counsellor support to increase post-abortion contraception at four Marie Stopes International clinics in Cambodia. The aim of this process evaluation was to assess participants' interaction with the intervention from a service provider perspective....